It is a spectacle that has captured the hearts of millions. Its characters embody the voices of an entire generation – one marked with an unwavering commitment to the fulfillment of life. It explores the struggles of artists who scrape to survive. It shows that AIDS does not destroy life; rather, it makes every second more valuable.

It is Rent.

Produced by Broadway in Chicago, the latest incarnation of Rent is Jonathan Larson’s 1996 adaptation. Larson, who died during the show’s 1996 previews, won a Tony Award and a Pulitzer Prize for his update of Puccini’s La Boheme, which also served as the basis for Sony Pictures’ 2005 film adaptation of Rent. By transporting the story’s grittiness and rawness, Larson succeeds in modernizing a story that captures life at its most desperately effervescent.

Rent chronicles the story of a group of bohemian artists who struggle to cope with life in New York City’s East Village. Afflicted by AIDS, poverty, love and loss, the group faces the reality of living with the hand you’re dealt.

On top of missing all of the hype, the awards and the respect that follows Rent everywhere, Larson also never saw this adaptation onstage. His death preceded the first performance, eliminating the possibility for any further tweaking. And even if the storyline could be considered too familiar at this point – what with a movie in the last year and ongoing theatrical versions – the show manages to capture the vibrant energy that makes life so extraordinary.

Rent is playing at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., on April 13 at 7:30 p.m., April 14 at 8 p.m. and April 15 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets cost $22.50 to $68. Tickets and showtimes are available by calling the box office at (312) 902-1400.

– Michael Burgner